93122: Ruling on disposing of samples after testing them

My wife works in a petroleum store. They test the samples of petrol by taking an amount of about 1.5 liters of petrol. These quantities are transferred by cars, in tanks. Is it permissible for me to take these samples after they finish testing them? I mean to put such samples into my car’s tank and use them. Note that the samples are not returned after testing.

Published Date: 2008-01-06

Praise be to Allaah.

If the samples are to be
returned after examining them, then they belong to them and it is not
permissible to anyone to take any of them without their permission, because
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The
wealth of a man is not permissible unless he gives it willingly.” Narrated
by Ahmad (20172); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’
(7662).

But if these samples are
not returned to the owners because they no longer want them, rather they may
be consulted as to do with them, then if they allow those who take them to
dispose of them, it is permissible for the employees to take them and
dispose of them.

It is permissible – even
obligatory – for them to take them if they have been told to get rid of
them, because Islam forbids wasting wealth and enjoins being grateful for
blessings, and wasting them is contrary to these two commands.

It seems – and Allaah knows
best – that the owners of these samples are not asking for them and they
regard them as no longer belonging to them; if that is the case then there
is nothing wrong with anyone taking them, and it is like the wealth that a
person leaves because he no longer wants it, so the one who takes it becomes
its owner, as the scholars said.